Landscape in History, and Other Essays

The present volume consists of a collection of Essays and Addresses which have appeared at intervals since the publication of my Geological Essays at Home and Abroad. Half of them deal with Scenery in its geological relations and in its influence on human progressa subject which for many years has engrossed much of my thought. Others discuss the problem of the Age of the Earth, while two are biographical, and one deals with the place of Science in modern education. I have to thank the editors of the Fortnightly, Contemporary, and International Quarterly Reviews for their courtesy in readily according me permission to reprint the essays which have appeared in these publications. 15th January, 1905. [Pg vii] [Pg 1] Landscape in History[1] Among the obscure problems in the history of mankind a foremost place must be given to the question of the origin and distribution of the various races of men. Undoubtedly two main factors in the differentiation of these races have been climate and geography. These same physical conditions still perpetuate, if they did not actually originate, the racial distinctions. Even where we may hesitate to adopt a theory as to the initial start of any one of the great branches of mankind, we can hardly fail to recognise that the several nations or tribes comprised within one of these branches are marked off from each other by more or less definite peculiarities, of which some at least may probably be referred to the influence of environment. The landscapes of a country, the form, height, and trend of its mountain-ranges, the position and extent of its plains and valleys, the size and direction of its rivers, the varying nature of its soils and climate, the presence or absence of useful minerals,[Pg 2] nearness to or distance from the sea, the shape of the coast-line whether rocky or precipitous, or indented with creeks and harboursall these and other aspects of the scenery of the land have contributed their share to the moulding of national history and character. For illustrations of this external influence we need go no further than the British Isles, and contrast the aspect and history of central England with those of the Scottish Highlands.[2] ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 64325
Author: Geikie, Archibald
Release Date: Jan 18, 2021
Format: eBook
Language: English